jalen-mayden-usatsi-cbs.jpg
USATSI

Group of Five teams will kick off their 2023 college football seasons on Saturday when the Ohio Bobcats of the MAC meets the San Diego State Aztecs of the Mountain West. The Bobcats are coming off a MAC East championship after finishing 7-1 in the league last year, and were 10-4 overall. The Aztecs tied with San Jose State for second in the West Division of the Mountain West at 5-3, while going 7-6 overall. Ohio won the only previous meeting between the teams, a 27-0 win in the Frisco Bowl in 2018.

Kickoff from Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego will be at 7 p.m. ET. Ohio allowed 28.4 points per game last year, while San Diego State surrendered 20.2. The Aztecs are favored by 2 points in the latest Ohio vs. San Diego State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 49. Before making any San Diego State vs. Ohio picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Ohio vs. San Diego State and just locked in its picks and CFB picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for San Diego State vs. Ohio:

  • Ohio vs. San Diego State spread: San Diego State -2
  • Ohio vs. San Diego State over/under: 49 points 
  • Ohio vs. San Diego State money line: Ohio +112, San Diego State -133
  • OH: 9-4-1 ATS last season 
  • SDSU: The Aztecs have gone under the game total in 11 of their last 16 games 
  • Ohio vs. San Diego State picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why San Diego State can cover

The Aztecs, who are 15-1-1 against current members of the MAC, are led by 2022 All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention selection Jalen Mayden. The senior quarterback has played 17 games in his career with the Aztecs, including eight starts. He had a solid season last year, completing 141 of 237 passes (59.5%) for 2,030 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He had a 139.7 rating. He also carried 69 times for 231 yards (3.3 average) and three TDs.

Also back for San Diego State is senior kicker and punter Jack Browning, the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year in 2022. He has played in 26 games in his Aztecs career, including 12 starts. He made 20 of 25 field goal attempts last season, including 2 of 3 from 50 yards or longer. He also connected on all 30 extra-point attempts. He averaged 46.1 yards per punt with a net of 42.3. Browning has been named to both the Ray Guy Award Watch List (best punter) and the Lou Groza Award (top kicker), the only player in the country on both watch lists. See which team to pick here.

Why Ohio can cover 

The Bobcats return a number of weapons on offense, including graduate quarterback Kurtis Rourke and redshirt sophomore Sieh Bangura. Rourke, who is on the 2023 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List, led the team in passing and was third in rushing. Rourke completed 244 of 353 passes (69.1%) for 3,256 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was intercepted just four times, and had a rating of 167.7.

Bangura, meanwhile, chewed up opposing defenses. He rushed 222 times for 1,078 yards (4.9 average) and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 226 yards (8.4 average) and two scores. Bangura had a big hand in Ohio's Arizona Bowl win over Wyoming at the end of last season. In that game, he carried 25 times for 138 yards (5.5 average) and one touchdown, including a long run of 40 yards. See which team to pick here.

How to make Ohio vs. San Diego State picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total. In fact, it says Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke will pass for nearly 200 yards and a touchdown, while San Diego State quarterback Jalen Mayden will pass for two touchdowns and run for another. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in more than 70% of simulations. You can only get the model's picks and analysis at SportsLine. 

So who wins Ohio vs. San Diego State, and which side of the spread cashes in more than 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Ohio vs. San Diego State spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished up nearly $2,500 on its FBS college football picks since its inception, and find out.